Wheel cover



Sept. 2, 1952 G. A. LYON 2,609,246

WHEEL COVER Filed April l, 1947 Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNlTEn STATE accaniti;

WHEEL CovinaA George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich. Applicationnpril 1, 1947, serial No.' `'1385512 This invention relates to an improved wheel structure and more particularly to a Vehicle wheel having a removable ornamental and protective cover for the outer side thereof.

An important object of the present invention is to provide in a vehicle wheel structure improved means for retaining an ornamental and protective cover in place thereon.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide an improved one-piece cover for a vehicle wheel.

A further object of the invention isto provide an improved vehicle Wheel and cover'combination wherein a` one-piece cover, which substantially entirely covers theA outer vside of the wheel, is adapted to be mounted on the wheel inreadily detachable relation in an improved manner.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention 4will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred emj` bodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a wheel structure embodying features of the invention with a portion of the cover applied thereto broken away to reveal details of structure therebehind;

Figure 2 is a radial sectionalv view taken substantially on the line II-ll. of Figure l and on' an enlargedscale; and

Figure 3 is a radial `sectionaliview taken'substantially on thefsame plane as Figure 2 but showing only the cover with `aY portion of the cover in a state of partial assembly. r

Asl shown on the drawings:

A wheel embodyingthe features 'of the invention comprises a wheel body I and a tire rim II. Both the wheel body and the tire rim may be formedfrom suitable gauge'sheet metal, the whe'elbody formed/as a stamping, andthe tire rim asa rolled section.

ange I4. The tire rim is adapted to receive a pneumatietire and tube assembly I5.

For'concealin the outer prises;v a one piece y Iis secured to the base flange of stepped flanged 'fashion and hasa generally axially outwardlyf'extending terminal t side of the `wheeige; cover II is 1 provided `wllich `by preference comconstruction including a tire:l

1 claim. (C1. 'soi-3i) 40 The-wheel body is formed with an annular4 rim-concealing portion I8 and a hub-cap-simulating portion I9. 'Ihe cover is adapted to be made fromsuitable gauge sheet metal, the tirerim-concealing portion I8 being Yformed in the nature of a trim ring of generally convex cross section in simulating the tire side Wall curvature, and, where colored white, appearing in use as a sidewall portion of a massive tire on the wheel. vAt its outer edge the cover portion I8 is preferably turned upon itself as shown at 20 for reinforcement. The diameter of the outer edge of the cover is preferably slightly less than the extremity diameter of the tire rim terminal ange' I4. Thus, by having the marginal extremity of the'cover lying within the plane of the edge of the terminal flange I4, the cover margin is protected vagainst damage should the wheel be 'run against afcurbor the like. Furthermore, the edge vofthe terminal flange -14 provides a convenient fulcrum for a pry-off tool P inserted betweentheedge ofthe cover andthe terminal iiange when it is desired topry the cover off of the wheel.

At the juncture of thelcover portions I8 and I9, is preferably formedan annular seating area 2I. This area 2I extends generally obliquely complementary to the adjacent or opposing radially outer side-of thenose bulge I2 and seats full thereagainst'.

The hub cap poniente' joins theY seating area.

2| through the mediumrof a generally radially and axially outwardly extending flange 22 which provides al shoulder for retaining engagement with a series of spring clips 23-mounted on the Wheel nose portion IZ-and concealed behind the cover portion I9.` There may be any suitable number of the clips 2:31such as four or five as desired. l

Each of the clip's'23 comprises a goose-neck head 24 formed with a retaining shoulder flange portion25. and integrally and. resiliently connected witha base ange 2l which is secured to the nose portion 'I2 lay/means of-J av rivet-28 extending through an aperture 29 in the nose portion.

A The clips extend L-generallyradially outwardly and have the retainingshoulder flange portions 25 thereof extending generally axiallyA rearwardly through clearance apertures 30 formed' in the nose portion. In ordertolimit the clips in their outward fiexure, the retaining flange portions 25 areformed with generally radially outwardly extendingV stop terminals 3l adapted vto engage the rear side of the nose-portionvofthe body.

The-normal circley defined by the retaining flanges of the clips 30 is preferably slightly greater than the internal diameter of the shoulder flange 22 of the cover. Therefore, when the cover is pressed axially inwardly against the clips, the clips snap into retaining engagement with the shoulder 22 of the cover.

In order to maintain the cover concentric on the wheel and reinforce the nose bulge portion I2 and especially adjacent to and with respect to the areas lthereof which are formed with the apertures 29 and 30, the nose portion I2 is formed with generally radially extending reinforcing ribs 32. This is desirable since the nose portion I2 is subjected to the greatest stress in the use of the Wheel. y

The ribs 32 are disposed as close to the respective sets of apertures 29, 30 with which they are associated as practicable and yet allow clearance for the respective retaining clips 23.

The circle defined bythe radially outer ends of the ribs 32 is such as just to clear the radially innermost portion of the retaining shoulder 22 of the cover and maintain the cover concentric when in place on the wheel, especially against transverse force thereagainst.

In order to enable the cover I'I proper to be made from a relatively inexpensive sheet lmetal which may lend itself well to finishing by painting or enameling, but which may not be readily susceptible of a natural polished finish or plating, and yet secure the decorativeadvantages of a brightly polished or otherwise de corated hub cap cover portion, the hub cap portion I9 of the cover may be provided with a. thin covering 33 of sheet metal, plastic material, or the like, which of itself may be susceptible of receiving a high polish or which may be readily plated to receive a high polish, or may be of an inherent color. For example, the covering l33 may be sheet aluminum, stainless steel, plated brass, or the like. Since the cover itself is of relatively stiff material, the covering 33 may be of very thin stock providing merely a skin-like layer over the outside of the hub cap cover portion I9.

A convenient manner of applying the decorative covering 33is to form the same initially to the generalcontour of the hub cap cover portion I9 and of a diameter to extend beyond the diameter of the cover portion proper so that the margin of the covering layer 33 can be crimped or spun under to lap against the radially outer side of the shoulder flange 22 from the extending position as indicated in Figure 3 to the fully engaging, retained position as shown in Figure 2. Then the margin of the facing sheet 33, identied at 34, is turned radially inwardly and under the annular protrusion afforded by the juncture of the hub cap cover portion I9 with the flange 22. Considered in another way, the margin of the facing sheet 33 is bent down into the generally axially outwardly opening groove afforded by the inset seating portion 2l of the cover and against the retaining shoulder provided by the flange 22 which defines the radially inner side of the groove.

' If preferred, of course, the facing sheet 33 may be a suitable `plastic to affordany desired color effect or it may be any other preferred material to afford the desired decoration of the cover. On the other hand, it is clear that the facing sheet 33 might beomitted if it is desired to utilize the hub-cap cover portion -I9 in an uncovered condition, either decorated or, where the materialis susceptible; thereof polished. Y

- From the fforegoingit wi11 be clear that-the' This is a valuable feature when it is considered that a wheel cover of this nature is subject to relatively violent transverse displacing forces when the wheel is driven against obstructions which may come in contact with the hub cap portion I9 of the cover. In such event, the resilient spring clips are liable to yield and allow the cover to be forced or popped off. On the other hand, the ends of the reinforcing ribs 32 leave the cover free for convenient snap-on, pryoff engagement with the retaining clips 23.

It is also to be noted that the coveris especially free from curbing damage since the tire rim covering portion I8 of the cover is fully protected by the edge of the tire rim. Any pressure that may be applied axially inwardly against the tire rim covering portion I8 is freely resisted resiliently by the cover portion I 8, within certain limits, since the outer edge is entirely free to yield in an axial direction. Yet the outer cover member I8, due to its convex contour and the reinforcement afforded by the angularly disposed seating portion 2l at its inner margin, is thoroughly reinforced. This reinforcement is also of distinct advantage for resisting pry-off distortion. Furthermore, the marginal reinforcement afforded for the hub cap cover portion I9 by the toed-in vangularity of the flange 22 and the angular relation vthereto of the seating portion 2l effectively rigidies the margin of the hub cap cover portion. The outwardly bowed structure of the hub cap cover portion is best designed to resist Aordinary axially inward pressures thereon resiliently and without permanent distortion. Y.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitatedby'the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as myinvention: In a wheel structure including a multi-fiange tire rim and a wheel body including an annular" reinforcing nose bulge and secured to the base flange of the tire rim and defining with` the axially outer flanges of the tire rim a relatively deep annular axially outwardly opening groove at the radially outer-side of which the axially outwardly'extending terminal ange of the tire rim provides a boundary rim for the groove,A a one-piece ksheet metal vcover comprising a trim ring portion and a hub cap simulating portion and an intermediate annular reinforcing and attachment rib integrally joining the portions of the cover in, one piece, said intermediate attachment rib comprising' an annular seatingV area generally obliquely complementary to the adjacent opposingradially outerside of thenose bulge andiseating fully thereagainst and a gen- @rally rmdia'1-ly:and axially outwardly extending:

5 flange at the radially inner edge of said seating area and providing at the radially inner side thereof a shoulder engageable by spring clips and cover centering means on said nose portion of the wheel body, the trim ring portion extending from the radially outer edge of said seating area on a convex curvature generally radially and axially outwardly in completely spaced relation to the tire rim and having its radially outer margin aligned with the radial plane of the tire rim terminal flange extremity and having a marginal underturned reinforcing flange with the juncture of the reinforcing flange with the remainder of the trim ring portion providing the edge extremity of the trim ring portion and lying in slightly spaced relation radially inwardly from the tire rim terminal flange for reception of a pry-off tool between said edge and the terminal flange, the radially outer margin of the trim ring portion and the terminal flange of the tire rim affording a pocket REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,120 Lyon June 16, 1942 2,109,671 Lyon Mar. 1, 1938 2,196,718 Ash Apr. 9, 1940 2,308,617 Lyon Jan. 19, 1943 2,368,254 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 2,397,360 Lyon Mar. 26, 1946 

